Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Wiley.
Laura, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been a pianist. When I was little, I felt connected to the instrument because my mother had played piano. As I got older, it became an escape for me, a place that was all my own. I started playing professionally when I was 14. I played for my choir and jazz band at school and played in a 10-piece Catholic church band all through high school. The irony of a Jewish girl singing to the congregants about Jesus was never lost on me. I was always told that I was a good pianist, but that I would never be a singer. For some reason, I just couldn’t let that go and was determined to be a singing pianist. When I turned 17, I started writing my own music and created my first album, “Thoughts on Love,” which came out the next year. That’s also the year I began gigging. Unfortunately, when I turned 20 I ripped my vocal cords performing with my band and was told I’d never sing again. I realized that I’d have to shift my focus away from performance if I was to make a living in this world, so I focused all my energy on writing. I became a music journalist, reviewing albums and bands for local magazines. When that career didn’t pan out either, I went back to waitressing and left music behind.
At 24, I missed performing and writing music so much that I created my second album, “It’s Not Me, It’s You.” My voice was not the same as it had been in my youth, but it had a raspier, deeper sound that people seemed to enjoy. At 26, I created my third album, “Words I Can’t Say,” which would be my last singer/songwriter album. I had no idea that would be the year my whole life would change. One fateful night I was drinking with my best friend at a local bar and saw a piano in the corner. There was no one around so I asked if I could play for my friend. After the manager heard me play he offered me a job, gigging there one night a week for tips. That one night a week turned into three paid nights a week, which gave me enough confidence to audition for Don’t Tell Mama in Los Angeles. After I got that job everything kind of snowballed.
For the last eight years performance has been my full-time job. I have performed everywhere from hotels to restaurants to piano bars to main stages, I have played in bands, done dueling pianos, done solo piano with drums, done musical theater cabaret style piano bar, and accompanied some of the most famous singers in the world. I have played all over the United States as well as several countries outside the United States. My current main residency is at Tramp Stamp Grannys in Hollywood, where my specialty is knowing every Disney song ever. My proudest accomplishment, however, is my musicals. I have written four full-length parody musicals, “Winter Is Coming,” “Buffy Kills Edward,” “Sex and the Musical,” and “Just The Worst.” My dream is to eventually write for musical parody television shows. If my mother was still alive I think she would be so proud of how far I’ve come as a musician. I could never have guessed where playing piano as a child would take me.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My number one biggest struggle has always been my voice. After I tore my vocal cords it took a lot of work just to be able to sing again. I lost most of my high range and had to work in a completely different vocal style. Once I began gigging regularly, it presented all new challenges because I was constantly losing my voice and had to start learning how to sing safely enough to keep going. These days I am a vocal instructor and my specialty is how to sing safely so none of my students have to go through what I went through.
My second biggest struggle was confidence. It took me years to believe I was actually any good at this. My low self-esteem came from years of criticism that I took to heart. I find that one you find your confidence in this business you’re basically unstoppable.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
So technically, I have two companies. Laura Wiley Piano is the name I use for my performance aspect of my career. I can perform as an accompanist or as a cabaret style entertainer or as a dueling pianist or as a band keyboardist or as an instrumental pianist, the list goes on and on. I’ve had to adapt over the years for whatever gig was in front of me. I am known for being the girl who can “play anything,” which is somewhat true. My repertoire of songs is enormous because of how much music I listen to. I can hear a song once and be able to perform it. Also, I specialize in knowing every single Disney song ever.
My second company, For The Love of Parody Productions, is the name I use for all my musicals. My specialty is musical parodies using original music. My newest show I’m working on is a parody of Gilmore Girls.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory from childhood is any memory that I have of my mother. I try to hold on to those memories because there are so few of them, and they are so precious to me. I lost her when I was only nine and it changed me completely. Although my mother mostly played classical and I do not, she did leave behind lots of sheet music for us and one of them was a pop song by CSNY called “Our House.” That is still one of my favorite songs to play and every time I play it, it’s for her.
Contact Info:
- Website: LauraWileyPiano.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @laurawileypiano
- Facebook: @laurawileypiano
- Twitter: @laurawileypiano
Image Credit:
Daniel J. Sliwa, Luciano Lusarreta, Sergio Cheretovich
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